In addition, FLUX has secured an exclusive partnership with Utada, Japan's
biggest female artist with sales of more than 37 million units, to produce the
world's first mobile music video series. Leading Japanese animator Koji
Morimoto will create shorts in collaboration with FLUX and Utada featuring
music from her acclaimed release Exodus (Island Records/Universal Music
Group).

MTV Networks Extends Pioneering Creativity to Digital World With Launch of New Brand - FLUX - on 30th June in Japan


World's First Mobile Entertainment Community to Launch in
Other Markets Across the Globe

Exclusive Deal with Japan's Biggest Female Artist -
UTADA - For World's First Mobile Music Video Series

SINGAPORE, HONG KONG, and TOKYO, Japan, June 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- MTV
Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B), announced today
that it will extend its pioneering creativity to the digital world by
launching a new brand - FLUX - on 30th June. FLUX will initially launch in
Japan as the world's first mobile entertainment community, and MTVN will
launch the service in other markets around the world with announcements
planned in the coming months. FLUX has secured an exclusive deal with Utada,
Japan's biggest female artist, to launch the world's first mobile music video
series.
FLUX will be a new subscription-based service delivering entertainment and
music via mobile and online networks to consumers in Japan. Subscribers will
be able to access short videos and music through their mobiles or computers,
make recommendations to others and provide feedback, integrating community and
content for the first time.
Bill Roedy, Vice Chairman, MTV Networks and President, MTV Networks
International, commented: "MTV Networks has been a leader in developing
innovative entertainment for new platforms for more than 25 years. The launch
of FLUX symbolises the importance of digital media to MTVN's future and is our
biggest international investment in this sector to date. Technology has
changed our lives, and Japan has been a clear leader. We will launch FLUX in
other markets and are uniquely positioned to share Japanese content
innovations with the rest of the world through our global network."
Targeting 13-34 year-olds, the FLUX content offer will include original
video and animation productions from Japan's leading creators, as well as
programming from the global MTV Networks library, including MTV's Dirty
Sanchez and Gutterpups. The award-winning SpongeBob SquarePants will be seen
for the first time in Japan outside the Nickelodeon environment on FLUX.
Original, locally produced animations will include Lightman, a superhero who
battles against the forces of evil, and Hanamoski, a series of clips starring
an elephant with a very long trunk.
In addition, FLUX has secured an exclusive partnership with Utada, Japan's
biggest female artist with sales of more than 37 million units, to produce the
world's first mobile music video series. Leading Japanese animator Koji
Morimoto will create shorts in collaboration with FLUX and Utada featuring
music from her acclaimed release Exodus (Island Records/Universal Music
Group).
FLUX will also feature a line-up of licensed content offering the best in
Japanese short-form entertainment, including: Polygon Family, a computer
graphic fantasy animation based on a video game; Perestroika, a dark comedy
blending traditional Japanese comic monologues with a mixture of puppets and
animation; and Sguy and the Family Stone, a slapstick flash animation series.
Clips will be available on mobile in 1-3 minute episodes, with lengthier
content available through the Web site.
Complementing the video programming and animations, FLUX will offer
consumers a diverse collection mastertones from record labels such as Avex,
BMG Funhouse, and Columbia Music Entertainment featuring local and
international artists. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
FLUX will initially launch on mobile in Japan via KDDI Corporation's "AU"
/ "EZWEB" with a monthly fee of 315 yen per month ($3). Additional carriage
deals with other operators will be announced in the coming months. The Web
site, http://www.fluxnet.jp , will launch this autumn. Consumers will be able to pay
subscription fees and purchase top-ups for additional content via monthly
mobile bills and credit cards. FLUX is powered by Faith, Inc., the leading
developer of technology for music distribution.

Contacts:

Rob Hooper
MTV Networks International
(In Tokyo until 3 June)
Tel: +81-90-9320-5074
Email: hooper.rob@mtvne.com

Polly Stevens - London
MTV Networks International
Tel: +44-(0)20-7478-6615
Email: stevens.polly@mtvne.com

Mok Ho Yan
MTV Networks Asia
Tel: +852-2313-8018
Email: mokhy@mtv-asia.com

Vector Communication Inc.
Tokyo
For Viacom International Japan K.K.
Uzuka / Ishigaki
Tel: +81-33403-2232


SOURCE MTV Networks